GRAND NATIONAL - Aintree Racecourse, Saturday 11 April 16:15

Posted Friday, April 10, 2015 &nbsp&nbsp|&nbsp&nbsp 813 views &nbsp&nbsp|&nbsp&nbsp Leisure Interest &nbsp&nbsp|&nbsp&nbsp Comments (0)Broadcast live to an estimated audience of 500-600 million viewers spread across 140 countries, this weekend will see Europe's most valuable jump race - the Grand National - get underway on Aintree's National Course as legendary jockey, Tony McCoy, takes what is potentially his final bow.

Though Grand National weekends are never lacking in narrative, this year's meet is perhaps even more gripping than usual given the possibility of McCoy riding home on the shortest-priced favourite in recent history and subsequently retiring as the world's bookmakers take an absolute pounding.

Whether that particular plotline comes to pass remains to be seen this weekend, but what is for certain is that McCoy and his horse, Shutthefrontdoor, will be well-backed as they join a highly-decorated field in what has previously been described as the "ultimate test of horse and rider".

At 7,141 metres, the National Course is widely recognised as a uniquely challenging event featuring much larger fences than those found on conventional National Hunt tracks - with course landmarks like Becher's Brook, The Chair and Canal Turn earning a certain degree of infamy in their own right. The second of those two fences earned its notoriety for being the site of the only accident in Grand National history that resulted in the loss of human life as Joe Wynne fell there in 1862 and died from injuries, though it should be noted a coroner's inquest revealed he was in poor physical condition.

These days, a ditch has been added on the take-off side in an effort to ensure a slower approach, but The Chair remains an incredibly tricky obstacle and one of the most popular sites for spectators to catch a glimpse of the action - and it will certainly have a major say in the final reckoning once more.

Likewise Becher's Brook and Canal Turn will also claim their fair share of casualties, making the National Course one of the most exciting and unpredictable tracks anywhere in the world - and it is for this reason the race remains a fixture on the betting calendar even for those who do not gamble regularly.

With all that being said, there are certain trends and criteria among the Grand National's recent winners, and in this preview we'll be doing our best to cast an eye over this year's crop of runners and riders and try to pinpoint any stand-out value in the market, starting with the current favourites.

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